The article challenges Duolingo's claim of being the world's best way to learn a language, arguing that its effectiveness is questionable. It suggests that the time spent on Duolingo could be better used through other methods.
The author proposes alternative methods, such as using phrasebooks or listening to podcasts at a slower speed, as potentially more effective and tailored to individual needs and learning styles than the short, daily sessions offered by Duolingo.
The article criticizes Duolingo's marketing tactics, pointing out that millions have been drawn in despite the app's limitations.
Duolingo claims that it is āthe worldās best way to learn a languageā. The app ā which has tens of millions of users ā boasts a āscience-backed approachā that it says ādelivers measurable resultsā. Iām not convinced: it seems to me that time wasted on Duolingo would be far better spent doing almost anything else.
Busy people, of course, canāt be expected to learn languages the most efficient way: dropping everything to spend some time in a foreign country and learn by immersion. But flickingĀ through one of those kitsch phrasebooks, or listening to a podcast in another language, slowed down to 0.5x speed if necessary, is probably more likely to help your language skills, in a way that is better tailored to your abilities and interests, than five minutes a day on Duolingo.
Millions have been taken in by Duolingo and its marketing gimmicks
Yet millions have been taken in by Duolingo and its marketing gimmicks.
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